Self-loading small-arms.



PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

J. T. S. SGHOUBOE.

SELF LOADING SMALL ARMS.

APILIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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VW -H WITNESSES 31 No. 785,275. PATENTED MAR 21, 1905.

J. T. s. SOHOUBOE. SELF LOADING SMALL ARMS.

APPLICATION I'ILED JUNHZG. 1901.

- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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A TTOHNEYSQ No. 785,275. PATENTED MAR. 21 1905. J. T. s. SGHOUBOE.

SELF LOADING SMALL ARMS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1901.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

10 Ma! WI -r e: 5655 grad No. 785.275. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

J. T. S. SGHOUBOE. SELF LOADING SMALL ARMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1901.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

,, "NrTED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

arena Prion.

SELF-LOADING SMALL-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,27 5, dated March21, 1905. Application filed June 25,1901. Serial No. 66,009.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, J ENS THEoDoR SUHR SoHoUBon, first lieutenant, asubject of the King of Denmark, residing at Copenhagen, V FrederiksbergAllee 4 1, Denmark, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSelf-Loading Small-Arms, (for which I have applied for apatent inBelgium, France, and England, and which applications are dated April 1.1901, April 4, 1901, and April 18, 1901,) of which the followingisaspecification.

This invention relates to that general class of small-arms in which theenergy developed by the recoil of the gun when it is fired is stored upand utilized in extracting the empty cartridge-shell, introducing a newcartridge into the barrel, and. cocking the hammer for the nextdischarge.

In order to aid in a more ready understanding of the detaileddescription of the construction and operation of the gun, which willhereinafter be given, a brief preliminary description of itsorganization will first be given.

My gun is provided with means for putting the recoil mechanism out ofaction, enabling the arm to be used as an ordinary single loader, and,further, provided with a firingtube and a percussion-spring, also actingas a locking-spring, as hereinafter explained, and, finally, providedwith a breech-guard, with a lockingknob, and a special trigger device.The organization thus briefly outlined will now be described more indetail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 7 7Figure 1 represents partly my rifle in plan. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalcentral section taken through line a b in Fig. 1, showing the breechmechanism and some of the adjacent parts in the position they occupyimmediately after the rifle has been fired and before the recoil hastaken place. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the breech andtrigger mechanism and some of the adjacent parts, taken through line (Zin Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of the trigger mechanism from the underside. Fig. 5 represents the breech-bolt. Fig. 6 represents thefiring-pin with locking-knob. Fig. 7 represents the stop-plate. Fig. 8is a longitudinal central section taken through line b (6111 Fig. 1,showing the breech mechanism and some of the adjacent parts in theposition they occupy when the recoil is terminated. Fig. 9 shows therifle seen from the right-hand side. Fig. 10 represents the lock-coverseen from the right-hand side. Fig. 11 represents the nose of thebreech-bolt. Fig. 12 is the locking-knob seen in front. Fig. 13 is arear end view of the lock-cover. Fig. 141 is the rifle in plan with themechanism drawn back. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal central section throughFig. 1 1. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal central section through the rear endof the lockcover, showing the relation between this and the locking-knoband the loose stop-plate. Fig. 17 is a longitudinal central sectionthrough the rear end of the lock-cover. Fig. 18 is a section through theloose stop-plate. Fig. 19 shows the trigger mechanism seen from theright-hand side, showing the cooperative relations between thespring-block, the trigger-arm, and its plug.

Fig. 20 shows the same as Fig. 19, and, further, the operative relationbetween the springblock and the projection 25. Fig. 21 shows theconnection between the trigger-plate'and the frame. through thelock-cover, showing the position of the stop-lug on the inner wall. Fig.23 shows the ejector seen from the right-hand side; Fig. 24:, the samein plan. Fig. 25 shows a portion of the firearm seen from the side,partly in section. Fig. 26 is a section on the line 0 of Fig 25. Fig. 27is a section on the line 9 it of Fig. 25. Fig. 28 is a longitudinalsection through the handle-piece. Fig. 29 is a section on the line a Z;of Fig. 28. Fig. 30 is a section on the line Zm of Fig. 28. Figs. 16 to30 are represented in a larger scale than the other figures.

The front part of the barrel 1 is turned cylindrically, so that duringthe recoil it may slide in the outer tube 2. To secure the recoil-spring3 to the barrel 1, there is pro vided upon the lower half of the barrela foot 4, over which the head 5 of the spring 3 is passed.

In the rear of the barrel l a swallowtail- Fig. 22 shows thecross-section shaped cavity for the barrel-holder 6 is prol the leftside of the barrel extension is the vided. This latter is a flat springwith a swallowtailed foot 7, which is partly inserted into theabove-mentioned cavity in the rear of the barrel and partly into acorresponding cavity in the barrel extension 22, by which means thebarrel is prevented from turning round when being li red. Thebarrel-holder 6, which is also utilized to keep the cartridges down inthe magazine during the last partof the recoil, (see Fig. 8,) isprovided in front with a projection 8, which enters a recess in thebarrel and is thereby prevented from slipping forward.

()n the under side of the outer tube 2a hook 100 is provided, on whichthe outer end of the recoil-spring 3 is secured.

The frame 10 is of H-shaped section and on the inside provided with ribs11 and 12 for guiding the barrel extension 22 and the handle-piece 12,and in the uppermost of these holes are provided for the catches of thebreech-guard 13. In the bottom is a passage for the cartridges andbehind this holes for the trigger-blocks 33, 3 1, and 41 and thestopplate 57. In front of the cartridge-passage and below the frame asquare block 1 1, exten sions of which form a guide for therecoilstopper is provided. This recoil-stopper consists of a squareblock 15, which is made to rise or fall by a bolt 16, in one end ofwhich an eccentric plug 17 is provided, which grips the block, the otherend being furnished With a small handle 18, (shown in Fig. 9,) whichmoves outside the right side face of the fixed frame, in which a hollowis cut out for the handle. If the handle 18 is pushed forward, as shownin Fig. 9, the block 15 is placed out of engagement with the barrelextension 22, and the recoil mechanism can consequently act, and if thehandle 18 is pushed backward, as shown in Fig. 2 with broken lines, theblock 15 is pushed up into the barrel extension, so that the latter isprevented from sliding back, by which means the recoil mechanism is putout of action, and the rifle may then be used as an ordinarysingle-loading rifle. During all drill the recoil mechanism should becut off.

In the walls of the frame 10 holes are provided for themagazine-retaining bolt 19 and the trigger pivot-pin 20, and in the backof the frame is a socket for the rear stock-screw 70. The lower part ofthe frame 10 is closed by the trigger-plate 21. which is supplied withtwo pairs of catches 101, (see Fig. 21,) which (when the trigger-plateis pushed up between the walls of the frame and pressed forward) grip orhook over the bolts 19 and 20, which pass through the walls of theframe. The trigger-plate 21 has an opening for the magazine and thetrigger and at the rear has a hole for the rear stock-screw. The outsideof the barrel extension 22 at the rear is supplied with a chase 23 forthe rib 11 in the frame 10. In

1 l l l ejector 102, (see Figs. 23 and 24.) which is an angle-lever ofwell-known construction, which is acted upon by a spring 103. In therear of the barrel extension is an opening 72 for the cartridge-clip,from which cartridges are supplied to the magazine.

The inside of the magazine is of the usual pattern with magazine-spring31 and carrierplate 30. On the front corner is a projection 24:, arecess in which engages with the bottom of the frames 10. In the backface of the magazine a horizontal semicircular groove is provided inwhich the bolt 19, having a cutaway portion, is disposed, which bolt maybe turned by means of a handle 82 outside the frame. If itis desired toremove the magazine, the bolt 19 is given a half-turn, so that itscut-away portion turns toward the magazine, which can then be taken out,it being adapted to be turned downward at 2 1. To put the magazine onagain, the projection 2 1 is first engaged with the bottom of the frame10 by means of the recess. The bolt is held in such a manner that itsflat side turns toward the magazine, and then the latter is pushed upinto its place, and the round side of the bolt is turned into the groovein the back face of the magazine. The magazine is then fixed inposition. Upon the bolt 19, which secures the magazine, there is also aprojection 25, which when the handle upon the bolt is turned aquarter-turn upward, so that it comes opposite the handle 26 of thehandle-piece 12, presses the spring-block 27 downward, so that thebreech-bolt can be put back over the hook 28 without first pressing thetrigger. This arrangement is made in order that an unlired cartridge maybe removed from the chamber.

The trigger mechanism consists of the trigger, the catch, and thespringblock. The trigger, which turns on bolt 20, is a triple-armedlever. The forward arm 32 has in front a projection having two stops 33,(see Fig. 4,) a cocking-block 34, and on the side a pin 35. (See Figs.19 and 20.) The steps prevent the breech-bolt from slipping back whenthe hammer is cocked. The cocking-block serves to cock the rifle and thepin to press down the spring-block 27. (See Fig. 19.) The lower arm 36forms the trigger. The rear arm 37 is provided with an extension tocarry the bolt 40 and a hole for the trigger-spring 39, one end of whichacts against the bottom of the frame 10 and the other end against theforward arm 38 of the catch, which turns on the bolt 10, and thus at thesame time tries to force the hooks 4.1 and the arm 32 upward. This lastaction, however, is limited by the bottom of the frame. The spring-block27 consists of a double-armed lever secured by the bolt 20. The forwardarm is a spring with a hook 28, the movement of which is partlydependent upon the trigger, and pin 35, securedto the arm 32, engageswith the upper side of the spring-arm. The other arm, 29, pressesagainst the bottom of the frame 10 in order to prevent the spring-blockfrom turning on the bolt 20.

The spring-block lever prevents the breechbolt from opening when it isonce closed, as the hook 28 goes up behind one of the guideledges 48 ofthe handle-piece 42. When pressure is put upon the trigger, the hook islowered by means of the pin in such a manner that when the shot is firedthe breech-bolt unimpeded can be moved back, and, as before stated, bythe above-mentioned bolt 19 being turned a quarter-turn the spring-block27 is pushed down, so that the breech-bolt can be freed withoutaffecting the trigger.

The breech mechanism consists of the breechbolt 43, the handle-piece 42,and the firing-tube with the percussion-spring 44. The breechbolt 43 isbored out inside cylindrically, with a bed for the firing-tube. Outsidethe forward end of the breech-bolt 43 is provided with twoclosing-blocks 47, in the left one of which provision is made for theextractor 46. On the back part of the nose of the breechbolt, which isof somewhat smaller diameter than the forward part, are two screw-formedgrooves 81, in which the two ribs 87, which are formed on the innercylindrical part of the handle-piece 42, engage. The inner cylindricalpart of the handle-piece ends behind in a square guide for thefiring-tube. On the outside of the handle-piece 42 two ledges 48 areprovided, which guide its passage into the frame 10, and below are twogrooves 74 (see Fig. 5) for the hooks 41. Two ribs 49 are also providedon the handle-piece, which when the breech is closed and the uppermostcartridge is pushed into the chamber press the rest of the cartridgesdown in the maga zine. The firing-tube 45 is acylindrical tube which infront is closed and turned to a point. Behind it has a squareguiding-piece 50, which moves in the square guide in the handle-piece,thereby preventing it from turning round. The guiding-piece 50 has onits top a safetyblock 51 and underneath a cocking-block 52. On the backpart of the firing-tube are two projections 53, which serve to hold thelock.

ing-knob 54 to the firing-tube when the mechanism is to be separated forcleaning. The percussion-spring 44 presses with its forward end againstthe base of the firing-tube and with its after end against thelocking-knob 54. To guide that part of the spring which lies outside thefiring-tube there is screwed into the base of the locking-knob aguide-pin 55, round which the spring is compressed when the breechrecoils.

The breech-guard consists of an outer wall 13, a movable inner wall 56,a loose stop-plate 57, and the locking-knob 54. The outer Wall- 13 isfurnished in front with two catches 80,

which enter holes in the guide-rib 11, and inside there are bearings 58for the movable inside wall 56. The outer wall has on its rear end anend wall 83, provided with a hollow 84 with two notches 71 for thelocking-knob 54 and its lugs 67. At the end of the wall 13 a groove orseat 59 is provided to receive the upper edge of the loose stop-plate57. (See Figs. 16, 17, and 18.) At the right-hand side the outer wall 13is cut away at its lower edge to form a space 85 for the handle 26 ofthe handlepiece 42. This space can be closed by the inner wall 56, whichlatter is capable of turning in the bearings 58 inside the outer walland can be moved by a little handle 61, projecting through a slot 60 inthe outer wall 13. The inner wall has inside brazed on a knob 62, (seeFig. 22,) which when the inner wall is turned to the right, and therebycloses the opening for the handle 26, comes in front of the safety block51 of the firing tube, and thereby prevents the latter frommovingforward even when the trigger is pressed. The loose stop-plate 57has in its center a circular hole for the locking-knob and also in itsfront surface two chases 63 with small recesses for the lugs 67 of thelocking-knob. These lugs are pressed back by the pressure of thepercussion-Spring against the locking-knob, so that the latter isprevented from turning during firing. Further, below the locking-knob afoot with a heel 64 is provided, by the help ofwhich it is secured tothe frame 10. The locking-knob 54 is bored out cylindrically and endsbehind in a base provided with a hole for the guide-pin 55. In the forepart of the recess are two ribs 65, in the back of which are beds 86 forthe projections 53 of the firingtube. On the outside the locking-knob isfitted with aflange 66, with two lugs 67, and with a milled handle-piece68.

The stock is divided into two pieces. In the forward part of the stock achannel is cut out for the head 5 of the recoil-spring 3. It is fastenedby means of the stock-ring and the trigger-plate 21, which when it ispushed forward to hook over bolts 19 and 20 slides over the back edge ofthe stock, which is prevented from slipping forward during firing by astopper. The back part of the stock is pushed in between the tail end ofthe sliding frame and the trigger-guard and is held fast by the screw70.

The a0ti0n.To load the rifle, the breechblock 43 and handle-piece42 arepushed backward by the handle 26. The cartridge-carrier 30 goes up intothe frame and prevents the bolt from coming forward. A cartridge-clip isthen pressed in the opening 72 of the frame, and the cartridges arepressed down into the magazine with the thumb of the right hand. Theclip is then pulled out of the breech with a sharp jerk, and the breechthen closes automatically, in which closing action the upper- IIO.

mostcartridge is forced forward into the firingchamber. The rifle isthen ready for firing.

If it is desired to use the rifle as a singleloading rifle, theeccentric plug 17will be raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, which represents the rifle used as a single-loader. hen,however, it is desired to open the rifle to the magazine, this plug 17will be lowered to the position shown in Fig. 8. By pressing upon thetrigger 36 the arm 32 is turned downward and with it the cocking-block34:, so that the block 52 is set free, and the firing-tube 45 is forcedforward by the spring 4A and the firing-pin at the end of the tube firesthe cartridge in the usual manner. In the recoil the recoil mechanism,the firing mechanism, and the barrel 1 and its extension are all forcedback together by the pressure of the liberated gas, (it being of courseunderstood that the recoil-stopper 15 is in its lower position and notobstructing the passage of the parts in question.) By this action therecoil springs and percussionsprings are compressed. The collectivebackward motion of the barrel, the barrel extension, and the breech isstopped by the head of the recoil-spring 3 pressing against the spring73 in front of the frame. The firers pressure upon the trigger causesthe opening hooks 41 to be lifted upward; but due to the angle at whichthe hooks are cut off the handle-piece will slide over them, pressingthem downward, and when the backward motion is stopped and the barreland breech-piece are again pressed forward by the springs the hooks 41by the pressure of the spring 39 grip into the grooves 74 in the bottomof the handlepiece 42 and hold it back, while the barrel and the breechextension 22 are pushed forward by the recoil-spring. The breech-block43 will follow the forward motion of the barrel extension by reason ofthe closing-blocks 47 gripping the breech-piece; but as the handle-pieceis held fast by the hooks 41 the ribs which are in the inside of thehandlepiece force the breech block to turn as it goes forward until thelocking-blocks enter the longitudinal grooves in the breech, by whichmeans further turning is prevented. The breech-block will now, beingheld fast by the ribs in the handle-piece, slide out of the breech andtake the cartridge-shell, which is held fast by the extractor 46, withit,. and the ejector in the back end of the breech will during thecontinued forward motion of the breech strike against the base of thecartridge-shell, and so eject it. In consequence of the breech duringthe backward and forward motion sliding over the stop 33 the arm 32 ofthe trigger is forced downward and at the same time the opening-hooks 41are forced upward, so that even if the firer lets go the trigger beforethe breech has regained its place the lock cannot free itself from theopening-hooks until this has taken place. When the firer has let go thetrigger, the l foremost arm of the latter will in consequence of thetrigger-springs pressure he pushed up ward. If the firer has let go thetrigger before the breech has been pushed quite forwsrd, this movementwill only take place i when the breech is quite forward and does notpress down upon the stops 33, and thereby force the opening-hooks 41 outof the grooves in the handle-piece, and the breech-block will then bepushed forward by the mainspring 44. During the movement the head of thebreech-block pushes the uppermost cartridge into the chamber, while theribs 49 force the others down into the magazine. The breechs movementstake place so quickly that the firer cannot let go his grip of thetrigger before the shell of the expended cartridge is ejected and therifle loaded afresh and ready for firing. He will consequently be ableto deliver, say, live shots which are in the magazine as quickly as hecan press the trigger five times. On the other hand, by not immediatelyletting go the trigger-that is, without performing any special motion--he can regulate the speed with which the rifle acts. Always afterfiring the safety-grip should so that the breech and the barrel maynotduring drill or on the march collide with the trigger-head andpossibly damage the latter.

When using the rifle as a single-loading rifle, as shown in Fig. 2, thebarrel 1, spring 3, barrel-holder 6, and barrel extension 22amstationary that is, the block 17 prevents their movements while therifle is being loaded.

What 1 claim is 1. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combination withthe rearwardly-sliding barrel, and barrel extension, of a tubularbreech-bolt cooperating therewith, a hollow firing-pin, having itsforward end located within the breechbolt, a spring partly locatedwithin the hollow pin, and a handle-piece encircling the rear portion ofthe firing-pin and the breechbolt and only connected with the latter bymeans of screw-formed grooves and ribs to effect a turning of thebreech-block in the handle-piece, the turning being only limited byhorizontal grooves in the barrel extension, substantially as described.

2. In a reeoilopera'ted firearm, the combination with the slidingbarrel, and tubular breech-bolt, of a hollow firing-pin, a stationarylock-cover, asecond lock-cover within the same having circumferentialmovement, a rigid part cldsing the rear end of said stationary cover, alocking-knob carried by said rigid part, a guide-pin carried by saidlocking-knob in line with the hollow firing-pin, and a percussion-springencircling said pin be turned backward and the hammerletdown,

and projecting'into the firing-pin, substantially as described.

3. In a recoil-operated firearm, the combination with the slidingbarrel, breech-bolt, firing-pin and handle-piece, of trigger mechanismcomprising a pivoted three-armed lever, one of said arms forming thetrigger, stops and a cocking-block carried by one of the other arms, arocking piece pivoted to the other arm having an upwardly projecting I0hook, and a spring acting on said rocking piece, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JENS THEODOR SUHR SCHOUBOE. Witnesses:

A. RONTSEN, J. G. JAooBsEN.

